Power generation system

ABSTRACT

A power generating system comprising a heating furnace having an ion burner and positioned on the way of a vertical cylindrical path having a lower gas inlet port and an upper gas outlet port, an axial fan disposed in said path, and a power generator disposed out of said path and interlocking with said axial fan, and wherein a temperature and ion concentration inside said heating furnace are increased by said ion burner, with the result that gas flowed in from said gas inlet port flows through said path upward as a vortical ascending current, and said axial fan is rotated by the vortical ascending current, and said power generator is driven by a rotation of said fan for power generation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a power generating system in whichpower is generated by energy of a continuous vortical ascending currentcreated artificially.

2. Description of the Related Art

As power generating systems, there are a thermal power generatingsystem, a nuclear power generating system, a hydraulic power generatingsystem and the like. Although these systems are common in the point thatpower is generated by rotating a turbine of a power generator, energysources for rotating the turbine are different. In the thermal powergenerating systems, steam is generated by burning heavy oil or otherfuel and the turbine is rotated by energy of the steam. In the nuclearpower generating systems, although the turbine is similarly rotated byenergy of steam, the steam is generated by heat created by nuclearfission. In the hydraulic power generating systems, the turbine isrotated by energy of water falling from an elevated position. Other thanthe above systems, there are a wind power generating system in which apower of wind is utilized, a power generating system in which anelectric power is generated by chemical reaction between hydrogen andoxygen, and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a system in which power is generated by energydifferent from the energy used in the conventional power generatingsystems and, in particular, rotating vanes are rotated by a continuousvortical ascending current created artificially (artificial tornado) anda power generator is driven by the obtained rotational force for powergeneration.

Natural tornado is generated as follows. When air (ionized) specificgravity of which is reduced by solar heat or other heat is ascended tocreate an ascending current, since atmospheric pressure therein isdecreased to generate a low pressure, air is flowing into the ascendingcurrent to cancel the pressure difference. In this case, since cold airtends to flow into warm air, the surrounding air colder than theascending air heated by the solar heat or other heat is flowing into theascending current, thereby generating vortical current. Once thevortical current is generated, since additional air is flowing into thevortical current in a vortex manner, the rotational force is graduallyincreased to generate the tornado ultimately.

Further, if a difference in temperature between the ascending currentand the surrounding air flowing into the ascending current is small,since the vortical current is generated at a relatively low height, thevortical current is grown, with the result that the low pressure iscreated in the center of the vortical current, thereby generating atyphoon.

The power generating system according to the present invention, theartificial tornado is created by utilizing the principle of thegeneration of the natural tornado or the typhoon and the power isgenerated by energy of the artificial tornado. More specifically, thepresent invention is constituted as follows.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided apower generating system comprising a heating furnace having an ionburner and positioned on the way of a vertical cylindrical path having alower gas inlet port and an upper gas outlet port, an axial fan disposedin the path, and a power generator disposed out of the path andinterlocking with the axial fan, and wherein temperature and ionconcentration inside the heating furnace are increased by the ionburner, with the result that gas flowed in from the gas inlet port isflows through the path upward as a vortical ascending current, and theaxial fan is rotated by the vortical ascending current, and the powergenerator is driven by a rotation of the fan for power generation.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in theabove-mentioned power generating system, the heating furnace is furtherprovided with a discharge electrode for maintaining the temperatureinside the heating furnace and a particle accelerator for maintaining orincreasing ion concentration, and, when the temperature and the ionconcentration inside the heating furnace reach predetermined levels, theion burner is temporarily stopped, and, thereafter, one or both of thedischarge electrode and the particle accelerator is driven to maintainthe temperature or the ion concentration inside the heating furnace,and, if the temperature or the ion concentration is decreased below thepredetermined level, the ion burner is driven again to increase thetemperature and the ion concentration inside the heating furnace up tothe predetermined levels, and, by repeating the temporary stop of theion burner, the driving of one or both of the discharge electrode andthe particle accelerator and the re-driving of the ion burner, thetemperature and the ion concentration inside the heating furnace aremaintained to values suitable for generating the vortical ascendingcurrent.

According to further aspect of the present invention, in theabove-mentioned power generating systems, two or more axial fans areprovided in the path and two or more power generators associated withthe fans are also provided.

According to further aspect of the present invention, in theabove-mentioned power generating systems, the axial fan is designed sothat movable vanes thereof are rotated within stationary vanes thereof.

According to further aspect of the present invention, in theabove-mentioned power generating systems, there is further provided anauxiliary ion burner disposed at an upper part of the path and adaptedto re-heat the gas ascending through the path thereby to promoteflow-out of the gas through the gas outlet port.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a power generating system accordingto a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing an ion flame generator of an ionburner used in the power generating system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing an ion breeder of the ion burner;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing an installation condition of afuel atomizer in the ion flame generator;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a structure of the fuel atomizer;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a metal fuel supplying device; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing an example of application of thepower generating system of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(First Embodiment)

As shown in FIG. 1, in a power generating system according to thepresent invention, a heating furnace 5 having ion burners 2, dischargeelectrodes 3 and particle accelerators 4 is mounted on an intermediateportion of a cylinder 1 having an inner diameter of about 3 m and aheight of about 300 m, and the cylinder 1 and the heating furnace 5 arevertically supported by a frame 6. In this case, an upper part of anupper cylinder portion 7 of the cylinder 1 higher than the heatingfurnace 5 is protruded upwardly from the frame 6.

A gas inlet port 9 is formed in a lower end of a lower cylindricalportion 8 of the cylinder 1 lower than the heating furnace 5 and anaxial fan 10 is disposed inside the lower cylindrical portion 8. A gasoutlet port 11 is formed in an upper end of the upper cylinder portion 7of the cylinder I higher than the heating furnace 5 and two axial fans12, 13 are disposed inside the upper cylinder portion 7, and the ionburners 2 are mounted on an upper part of the upper cylinder portion 7.Rotary shafts 20, 21, 22 of power generators 17, 18, 19 of high voltagetype are connected to rotary shafts 14, 15, 16 of the three axial fans10, 12, 13, respectively.

The frame 6 is constituted in such a manner that four struts 23 eachobtained by interconnecting desired number of prismatic metal pipes eachhaving dimension of 300 mm×300 mm and a thickness of 10 mm are stoodupright on a concrete foundation in a frusto-pyramid fashion and thefour struts 23 are connected by metallic connecting members 24 at fivepoints of each strut in the vertical direction and metallic reinforcingmembers 25 are connected obliquely between lower ends of the struts 23and the lowest metallic connecting members 24 and additional metallicreinforcing members 25 are connected obliquely between the heatingfurnace 5 and the third (from bottom) metallic connecting members 24.The height of the frame 6 is selected to about 320 m in consideration ofthe height of the cylinder 1. The cylinder 1 can have an inner diameterof 3 m or more and height of 300 m or more, and, in such a case, theheight of the frame 6 is increased accordingly.

In the power generating system according to the present invention, anartificial vortical ascending current is created in the interior (path)of the cylinder 1 by increasing the temperature and ion concentrationinside the heating furnace 5 by partially or totally operating the ionburners 2, discharge electrodes 3 and particle accelerators 4 of FIG. 1,and the vortical ascending current is struck against the axial fan 10below the heating furnace 5 and the axial fans 12, 13 above the heatingfurnace 5 thereby to rotate these axial fans 10, 12, 13 , and the powergenerators 17, 18, 19 connected to the respective axial fans 10, 12, 13are driven by the rotation of the fan for the power generation.

Castable refractories (for example, mixture of refractory aggregate andalumina cement or hydraulic setting agent such as phosphoric acid) isused on a peripheral wall of the heating furnace 5 shown in FIG. 1, andthree ion burners 2 having calorific value of about 100×10⁴ KC arearranged on the peripheral wall equidistantly along a circumferentialdirection (only two of which are shown in FIG. 1). Distal ends of threeion burners 2 are directed toward the center of the heating furnace 5,so that high burning sounds due to explosive burning (burning of 13 to15 m/s) generated from the respective ion burners 2 are impinged againsteach other to reduce the total noise by cancellation of sound waves andDoppler effect caused by impingement of sound waves.

As shown in FIG. 2, each ion burner 2 is constituted by adding an ionbreeder 31 shown in FIG. 3 to an ion flame generator 30 comprised of aturbofan 26, a motor 27, an axial compressor (turbine) 28 driven by themotor 27 and an ion flame generating portion 29. The turbo-fan 26 servesto take-in air and to send the air to the turbine 28. As shown in FIG.2, the turbo-fan 26 is provided with an air adjusting valve 32 so thatan air intake amount is adjusted by adjusting an opening degree of theair adjusting valve 32 to control an air amount supplied to the turbine28. In the turbine 28, movable vanes 34, a compression vane 35 and adistribution vane 36 are attached to a shaft 33 rotatingly driven by themotor 27. When the vanes 34, 35 are rotated inside fixed stationaryvanes 37, the air sent from the turbo-fan 26 is compressed and injectedtoward the ion flame generating portion 29. The injected air is agitatedby the distribution vane 36 to provide uniform pressure and then is sentinto five fuel atomizers 38 of the ion flame generating portion 29.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the ion flame generating portion 29, acylindrical body 39 is formed from ferromagnetic metal (such as iron,nickel or cobalt) and the five fuel atomizers 38 are arranged inside thecylindrical body 39 as shown in FIG. 4, and a substantially cylindricalflame contact ionizing material 40 (FIG. 2) is disposed in front of thefuel atomizers 38. An electromagnetic coil 41 having an iron core isattached around the cylindrical body 39. Incidentally, the fuelatomizers 38 are fixed inside the cylindrical body 39 by a metal plate42 shown in FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the fuel atomizer 38, a non-magnetic metal airinjecting nozzle 46 (having nozzle diameter of 1 to 2 m φ) for injectinghigh pressure (about 15 k pressure) air and a non-magnetic metal fueldropping nozzle 47 for dropping fuel (kerosene, metal powder mixed oilor water) are inserted into and secured to the interior of a cylindricalbody 45 made of non-magnetic metal (such as brass, stainless steel orthe like) at a rear end portion thereof. As shown, an inner peripheralsurface of a distal (front) end 48 of the cylindrical body 45 is flaredor tapered outwardly to have a taper angle (θ) of 40 to 60 degrees andtaper length (d) of 10 to 15 mm. About fifteen to twenty slits 49 eachhaving a width of 1.5 to 2 mm are formed in an outer peripheral surfaceof the rear end portion of the cylindrical body 45 in acircumferentially spaced relationship, and an angle (φ) of a tip end ofeach slit 49 is selected to 45 degrees. The fuel dropping nozzle 47 isinserted into the cylindrical body 49 through one of the slits 49. Aninner diameter (c) of the cylindrical body 45 is 35 to 45 mm, and atotal length (a+b+d) is 170 to 215 mm. Incidentally, (a) is 160 to 200mm and (b) is 50 to 60 mm. Further, the fuel dropping nozzle 47 isprovided with an agitator 50 for agitating the fuel to be supplied. Theagitator 50 serves to agitate the fuel by rotating a spiral rotary vane51 by a motor 52.

In the fuel atomizer 38, the fuel dropped from the fuel dropping nozzle47 is atomized into fine particles having diameter of 0.01μ or less byhigh speed air sent from the rearward turbine 28 and high pressure airinjected from the air injecting nozzle 46 and then is injected from thedistal end portion 48. In the fuel atomizer 38, due to the presence ofthe taper of the distal end portion 48, once atomized fuel is injectedsmoothly without being liquidized again, thereby achieving highatomizing efficiency.

The flame contact ionizing material 40 is manufactured by crystalizingcompound of mixture of photo-active substance and magnetic substancewithin an oxidizing environment. The photo-active substance may bemonomer such as selenium, cadmium, titanium, lithium, barium orthallium, or compound such as oxide, sulfide or halide thereof, and themagnetic substance may be ferromagnetic substance (iron, nickel, cobaltor their compounds) or paramagnetic substance (manganese, aluminium, tinor their compounds) or diamagnetic substance (bismuth, phosphorus,copper, calcium or their compounds).

As shown in FIG. 2, the electromagnetic coil 41 is constituted byattaching copper wire coil 54 to an iron core 53, and a power supply(not shown) is connected to the copper wire coil 54. When pulse currentis applied from the power supply to the electromagnetic coil 41, astrong high frequency magnetic field is generated inside the coil,thereby strongly magnetizing the cylindrical body 39 of the ion flamegenerating portion 29. The high frequency magnetic field has, forexample, magnetic flux density of 10000 or more and frequency of about20 to 50 MHz. The cylindrical body 39 magnetized by the electromagneticcoil 41 generates a high frequency magnetic field therein to activatethe flame contact ionizing material 40, so that hydrocarbon flamecontacted with the flame contact ionizing material 40 is changed to ionflame including numerous cations (carbon ions, hydrogen ions, iron ionsor the like) and anions (oxygen ions). Incidentally, in the flamecontact ionizing material 40 activated in the high frequency magneticfield, although the atomized fuel is fired only by contacting with theflame contact ionizing material, the flame contact ionizing material 40is provided with a firing electrode 55 to enhance possibility of firing.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the ion breeder 31, a cylindrical body 60 isformed by alternately interconnecting non-magnetic metal (such as brass,stainless steel or the like) rings 61 and ferromagnetic metal (such asiron, nickel, cobalt or the like) rings 62, and electromagnetic coils 63are attached around the ferromagnetic metal rings 62. There are threeferromagnetic metal rings 62 and three electromagnetic coils 63. Eachelectromagnetic coil 63 is constituted by winding an insulated copperwire 65 around the corresponding ferro-magnetic metal ring 62 with theinterposition of an insulation paper 64 and winding cooling copper pipe66 around the wire 65 with the interposition of an insulation paper 64and winding a metal cover 67 around the pipe 66 with the interpositionof an insulation paper 64. Incidentally, each electromagnetic coil 63 isfirmly secured to an outer flange 68 of the cylindrical body 60 not tobe shifted by a magnetic force generated or vibration of the ion burners2.

The insulated copper wire 65 of each electromagnetic coil 63 isconnected to a power supply (not shown) so that it can receive a greatpulse current from the power supply. When the great pulse current isapplied, the electromagnetic coil 63 generates a strong high frequencymagnetic field inside the coil so as to magnetize the ferromagneticmetal ring 62 strongly in the high frequency magnetic field, with theresult that the magnetized ferromagnetic metal ring 62 generates astrong high frequency magnetic field therewithin. The high frequencymagnetic fields inside the ferromagnetic metal rings 62 vibrate ions inthe ion flame generated by the ion flame generating portion 29 andaccelerate the cations toward the flame injecting port and acceleratethe anions toward the ion flame generating portion 29 and increase thenumber of cations and anions while elastically impinging the cations andanions against other particles (ionized particles and un-ionizedparticles). Further, by the presence of the ferromagnetic metal rings 62and non-magnetic metal rings 61 alternately arranged, the ion flame ismagnetically restricted steppingly to compress the ion flame (pinchingeffect), and the compressed cation flame is injected into the heatingfurnace 5. Incidentally, the anion flame is injected toward the ionflame generating portion 29.

The cooling copper pipe 66 of each electromagnetic coil 63 is connectedto a cooling device (not shown) so that cooling water can be flownthrough the cooling copper pipe 66 to cool the electromagnetic coil 63.Although the electromagnetic coil 63 is heated to high temperature byheat from the insulated copper wire 65 (through which great current isflowing) and heat from the interior ion flame, the over-heat of the coilis prevented by the cooling water. The electromagnetic coil 63 may becooled by water, other cooling media, or a forcibly cooling system.

In the ion flame generator 30 as mentioned above, while an example thatthe ion breeder 31 utilizes the high frequency magnetic fields generatedby the multi-stage electromagnetic coils 64 was explained, a strongelectrical field capable of vibrating and accelerating the ions may begenerated inside the cylindrical body 60 of the ion breeder 31.

The fuel dropping nozzle 47 (FIG. 5) of the ion flame generator 30 canreceive fuel from a fuel supplying device 70 through a pipe. The fuelsupplying device 70 comprises a kerosene supplying device 71 forsupplying kerosene, a water supplying device 72 for supplying water anda metal fuel supplying device 73 for supplying metal powder mixed oil.Among them, the kerosene supplying device 71 is a tank for storing thekerosene and the water supplying device 72 is a tank for storing thewater.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the metal fuel supplying device 73 (FIG. 5), acylindrical minus electrode 75 made of conductive metal is verticallysecured to the center of a bottom of a kerosene tank 74 made ofinsulation material, and a plus electrode rod 76 formed from anelongated cylindrical iron rod and a plus electrode rod 76 formed froman elongated cylindrical aluminium rod are disposed in the vicinity ofthe minus electrode 75, and the electrodes 75, 76 are connected to ahigh voltage power supply 78, so that high voltage (for example, 30000to 100000 V) can be applied between the electrodes 75 and 76. In themetal fuel supplying device 73, by applying the voltage between theminus electrode 75 and the plus electrode rod 76 formed from iron oraluminium, when discharge is generated between the electrodes 75 and 76,fine particle (smaller than 0.5 mm) iron powder or aluminium powder isstripped from the surface of the plus electrode rod 76 and is dischargedinto the kerosene. In this case, carbon of hydrocarbon is deposited inthe kerosene, the iron or aluminium powder is adhered to the depositedcarbon to mix the metal powder with the kerosene, thereby forming themetal powder mixed oil. If necessary, surfactant may be added to themetal powder mixed oil. In such a case, the metal powder mixed oil canbe stored for a relatively long term. However, the surfactant used mustnot prevent burning.

The two plus electrode rods 76 are horizontally inserted into the tank74 through insertion holes formed in both side walls of the tank 74.Pieces of packing 79 are provided in the insertion holes to detachablyhold the inserted plus electrode rods 76 and to prevent leakage ofliquid. An insertion length (into the tank 74) of each plus electroderod 76 can be adjusted by an automatic feed-in mechanism (electrodemoving device) 80 so that a distance between a distal end of the pluselectrode rod 76 and a distal end of the minus electrode 75 can beadjusted to facilitate occurrence of the discharging. When the distalend of the plus electrode rod 76 is shortened, the automatic feed-inmechanism 80 serves to automatically feed out the plus electrode rod 76toward the minus electrode 75 accordingly, thereby always keeping thedistance between the distal ends of the electrodes 75 and 76 constant.Incidentally, control of the feed-in amount of the plus electrode rod 76effected by the automatic feed-in mechanism 80 can be realized, forexample, by measuring the distance between the electrodes 75 and 76 byan optical sensor from exterior of the tank 74, or by monitoringpotential or electrical current between the electrodes to generate theproper discharging, or by previously seeking the shortened rate of theelectrode due to the discharging as an decreasing amount per unit time.

So long as the effective discharging can be achieved between theelectrodes 75 and 76, the minus electrode 75 and the plus electrode rods76 are not limited to the above-mentioned example, but, for example, oneor both of the electrodes 75, 76 may be formed as a prismatic member.Further, the voltage or electrical current applied between theelectrodes 75 and 76 can be appropriately set in accordance with shapesof the minus and plus electrodes 75, 76 and/or the distance between theelectrodes and/or materials of the electrodes .

The tank 74 is provided with a fuel amount monitoring device (not shown)for measuring an amount of fuel within the tank so as to prevent theminus electrode 75 and the plus electrode rods 76 in the tank 74 fromprotruding upwardly from the liquid level. If the fuel is decreasedbelow a predetermined amount, for example, the fuel amount monitoringdevice serves to replenish the fuel or to inform the operator of suchfact. Due to the presence of the fuel amount monitoring device, thedischarging can be prevented from occurring in the condition that theelectrodes are protruded from the liquid level, thereby preventing thekerosene as the fuel from being fired, and, thus, preventing fire andexplosion of the tank 74.

An agitating device 81 is disposed on the top of the tank 74. Theagitating device 81 comprises a motor 82, and a propeller 83 rotatinglydriven by the motor 82 and serves to agitate the kerosene in the tank 74by the propeller 83. The number of revolutions of the propeller 83 canbe appropriately set.

The kerosene supplying device 71 shown in FIG. 5 may be provided with acracking device. The cracking device serves to decompose heavy petroleumhaving high boiling point to manufacture light petroleum having lowboiling point (gasoline and the like). For example, the cracking devicemay be of the contact decomposing type using silica/alumina catalyst or,the thermal decomposing type for effecting decomposition at a hightemperature (800 to 850° C.) without catalyst, or the hydrogenationdecomposing type for effecting decomposition using catalyst in whichnickel or tungsten is carried by silica/alumina and utilizing highpressure hydrogen. The cracking device is effective particularly whenfuel having high boiling point such as heavy fuel oil is used in placeof kerosene.

One of the fuels or combination thereof required can be supplied fromthe supplying devices 71, 72, 73 to the fuel dropping nozzle 47 throughfuel switches. For example, only the kerosene can be supplied until thetemperature reaches about 1800° C. after the ion flame generating device30 was started, and, then, the metal powder mixed oil can be supplieduntil the temperature reaches about 2500° C., and thereafter, the metalpowder mixed oil and water can be supplied. In this way, proper fuel canbe selected and supplied in accordance with the burning temperature.

As shown in FIG. 1, above the ion burners 2, the discharge electrodes 3are opposed to each other on the peripheral wall of the heating furnace5. The discharge electrodes 3 are connected to power supplies (notshown) so that the temperature of the interior of the heating furnace 5heated by the ion burners 2 can be maintained by generating thedischarging between the electrodes by applying voltage to theelectrodes.

Further, four particle accelerators 4 are provided on the peripheralwall of the heating furnace 5. The particle accelerators 4 serve tomaintain the ion concentration inside the heating furnace 5 or toincrease ions thereby to increase the ion concentration. A betatron, acyclotron or a synchrotron may be used as the particle accelerator 4. Inthe betatron, electrons housed in a donut-shaped vacuum vessel areaccelerated by externally applying an alternate magnetic field, so thatthe ion concentration inside the heating furnace 5 can be increased bydischarging the accelerated electrons into the heating furnace 5. In thecyclotron, charged particles are repeatedly accelerated by a highfrequency electrical field having cyclotron vibration number insynchronous with a circular movement having a predetermined periodeffected by a Lorentz force in a DC magnetic field, thereby obtaininghigh energy particles, and the ion concentration inside the heatingfurnace 5 is increased by discharging such high energy particles intothe heating furnace 5. The synchrotron is an accelerator in which upperlimit of energy of the said cyclotron is exceeded and in whichelectromagnets are arranged along a circular path having a predeterminedradius to increase magnetic flux density as the particle speed isincreased.

The gas inlet port 9 of the cylinder 1 is provided with a damper, sothat, when the temperature and the ion concentration inside the heatingfurnace 5 exceeds a predetermined level (for example, temperature of1800° C. to 3500° C.; ion concentration of 30% to 80%), the gas(atmospheric air) can be introduced into the cylinder 1 by opening thedamper. Further, the amount of the introduced gas can be adjusted bychanging the opening amount of the damper. In addition, a lower end ofthe gas inlet port 9 is protruded downwardly from the damper so that,when the damper is opened, the atmospheric air can smoothly flow intothe cylinder 1. Incidentally, a metallic net is attached to the lowerend of the air inlet port 9 to prevent foreign matters from enteringinto the cylinder 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the axial fans 10, 12, 13 have a plurality ofmovable vanes 90 attached to the respective rotary shafts 14, 15, 16along their longitudinal directions so that, when the vortical ascendingcurrent flowing upwardly through the cylinder 1 strike against themovable vanes 90, the rotary shafts 14, 15, 16 are rotated by energy ofthe air stream. The rotary shafts 14, 15, 16 of the axial fans 10, 12,13 are connected to the rotary shafts 20, 21, 22 of the power generatorsof high voltage type (10000 V to 20000 V) via gears so that, when theaxial fans 10, 12, 13 are rotated, the power generators 17, 18, 19 aredriven for the power generation. In FIG. 1, six (in total) powergenerators can be driven by driving two power generators by each of theaxial fans. Among three axial fans 10, 12, 13, the middle-stage axialfan 12 has fewer movable vanes 90 than those of the other axial fans 10,13. The reason is that the adequate rotational force can be obtainedeven when the number of movable vanes 90 is small because the vorticalascending current is stabilized in the central portion of the cylinder1. The axial fans are designed to endure against the vortical ascendingcurrent having current speed of 150 m/s.

As shown in FIG. 1, inside the cylinder 1, there are provided stationaryvanes 91 around the axial fans 10, 12, 13 so that the movable vanes 90of the axial fans 10, 12, 13 can be rotated inside the stationary vanes91. With this arrangement, the vortical ascending current impinges themovable vanes 90 uniformly, thereby rotating the axial fans 10, 12, 13efficiently.

As shown in FIG. 1, above the upper-stage axial fan 13, the vorticalascending current is discharged out of the cylinder 1 through the gasoutlet port 11. An upper end of the gas outlet port 11 is protrudedupwardly from the frame 6 so that the gas can smoothly be discharged.Further, auxiliary ion burners 2 (having calorific value of about120×10⁴ KC) are provided in the vicinity of the gas outlet port 11 sothat the gas ascending through the cylinder 1 can be re-heated topromote the discharging of the gas. The structures of the auxiliary ionburners 2 are the same as those of the ion burners 2 provided on theheating furnace 5.

(Example of Usage)

For example, the power is generated by using the power generating systemaccording to the present invention shown in FIG. 1 in the followingmanner.

1. In a condition that the damper of the gas inlet port 9 is closed, theion burners 2 are operated to heat and ionize the air inside the heatingfurnace 5. Since the air heated inside the heating furnace 5 and havingincreased ion concentration is ascending through the cylinder 1 and isdischarged outwardly through the gas outlet port 11, the hightemperature is established inside the cylinder 1, and, thus, the airpressure inside the cylinder becomes lower than the atmosphericpressure.

2. When the temperature and the ion concentration inside the heatingfurnace 5 reach the predetermined levels (for example, temperature of1600° C., ion concentration of 30%), the damper of the gas inlet port 9is opened. Since the pressure inside the cylinder 1 is lower than theatmospheric pressure, when the damper is opened, the atmospheric air isflowing into the cylinder 1 through the gas inlet port 9 to equilibratethe pressure. In this case, since the lower temperature air has thetendency to flow into the higher temperature air from therearound, theatmospheric air having lower temperature than that of the air inside thecylinder 1 flows into the cylinder 1 through the gas inlet port whileforming the vortical current and impinges against the lower-stage axialfan 10 to rotate the axial fan 10. When the lower-stage axial fan 10 isrotated, two power generators 17 connected thereto are driven for thepower generation.

3. The gas passed through the lower-stage axial fan 10 flows into theheating furnace 5 while increasing the vortex speed by means of therotation of the axial fan 10. In the heating furnace 5, the gas isinstantaneously heated to create the vortical ascending current which isin turn ascending through the cylinder 1. The flow speed of the vorticalascending current is proportional to the temperature and the ionconcentration of the heating furnace 5.

4. Then, the vortical ascending current impinges against themiddle-stage axial fan 12 to rotate the axial fan 12. Further, thecurrent impinges against the upper-stage axial fan 13 to rotate theaxial fan 13. When two axial fans 12, 13 are rotated, the powergenerators 18, 19 connected thereto are driven for the power generation.

5. The vortical ascending current passed through the middle-stage andupper-stage axial fans 12, 13 is re-heated by the auxiliary ion burners2 in front of the gas outlet port 11 and then is discharged out of thecylinder through the gas outlet port 11. Since the atmospheric air(neutral) flows into the air (ionized) in the discharged vorticalascending current, the air is neutralized to achieve neutralization.

6. In this way, the lower-stage, middle-stage and upper-stage axial fansare rotated to drive the power generators connected thereto, therebyrealizing the power generation. The obtained electricity can be sent orused, if necessary with voltage reduction.

The ion burners 2 are temporarily stopped when the temperature and theion concentration inside the heating furnace 5 reach the predeterminedlevels, and, thereafter, the temperature inside the heating furnace 5 ismaintained by the discharging effected of the discharge electrodes 3,and the ion concentration in the heating furnace 5 is maintained by theparticle accelerators 4. If the temperature and the ion concentration inthe heating furnace 5 are decreased below the predetermined levels, theion burners 2 are re-operated. When the ion burners 2 are operatedintermittently in this way, the fuel required for the ion burners 2 canbe saved and an amount of generated carbon dioxide can be reduced.

(Other Embodiments)

In the above-mentioned example of usage, while an example that only onepower generating system according to the present invention is used wasexplained, as shown in FIG. 7, two or more power generating systemsaccording to the present invention can be used together. Further, thenumber of the ion burners provided on the heating furnace is not limitedto three, but smaller or larger number of ion burners may be used. Thenumber of the axial fans disposed in the path and of the powergenerators are also not limited to the above-mentioned ones, but smalleror larger numbers of axial fans and power generators may be used.Further, power generators other than the high voltage type may be used.The numerical values regarding height of the frame, dimension of thestruts and length and diameter of the cylinder and others shown in theabove embodiment are merely exemplary.

Industrial Availability

1. The power generating system according to the present invention canachieve adequate power generation with extremely fewer fuel incomparison with the heat power generating systems. Further, the amountof generated carbon dioxide is small.

2. There is no danger of leaking detrimental substances such asradioactivity, unlike to the nuclear power generating systems. Further,it is easy to treat the used fuel.

3. It is not required for fabricate the dam, unlike to the hydraulicpower generating systems.

4. The construction is simple, and installation cost is cheap.

5. Generally, adequate power generation can be achieved with simpleconstruction and low cost without affecting a bad influence upon theenvironment, in comparison with the conventional various powergenerating systems.

What is claimed is:
 1. A power generating system comprising: acylindrical path having a height of several hundred meters, saidcylindrical path comprising: a gas inlet port formed in a lower part ofsaid cylindrical path; and a gas outlet port formed in an upper part ofsaid cylindrical path; a damper configured to open and close said gasinlet port; a heating furnace which has a peripheral wall formed ofcastable refractories and is positioned in said cylindrical path; anaxial fan having at least two rotor vanes in its axial direction andprovided in said cylindrical path at a position above said heatingfurnace; a power generator that is provided outside of said cylindricalpath and that is configured to operate in association with said axialfan; and an ion burner and a discharge electrode which are provided tosaid heating furnace and are configured to increase a temperature andion concentration inside said heating furnace, wherein said ion burnercomprises a fuel atomizer configured to atomize fuel which includeskerosene, metal powder mixed oil, and water and which is supplied from afuel supplying device, said fuel supplying device comprises a metal fuelsupplying device which is provided with a plus electrode and a minuselectrode, when electric discharge is generated between said plus andminus electrodes, particulate metal powder formed from one of said plusand minus electrodes is discharged into the kerosene to cause adeposition of carbon of hydrocarbon in the kerosene, and the metalpowder is adhered onto the deposited carbon so that metal powder mixedoil is produced; the temperature and ion concentration inside saidheating furnace are increased to predetermined levels by said ion burnersuch that gas supplied to said cylindrical path from said gas inlet portis ascended along said cylindrical path as a vortical ascending current,said axial fan is rotated by the vortical ascending current, and saidpower generator is driven by a rotation of said fan to generate power;and said ion burner and said discharge electrode are configured toincrease and maintain the temperature and the ion concentration insidesaid heating furnace to levels suitable for generating the vorticalascending current.
 2. A power generating system comprising: acylindrical path having a height of several hundred meters, saidcylindrical path comprising: a gas inlet port formed in a lower part ofsaid cylindrical path; and a gas outlet port formed in an upper part ofsaid cylindrical path; a damper capable of opening or closing said gasinlet port; a heating furnace which has a peripheral wall formed ofcastable refractories and is positioned in said cylindrical path; anaxial fan having at least two rotor vanes in its axial direction andprovided in said cylindrical path at a position above said heatingfurnace; a power generator that is provided outside of said cylindricalpath and that is configured to operate in association with said axialfan; an ion burner provided to said heating furnace and configured toincrease a temperature and ion concentration inside said heatingfurnace; and a particle accelerator provided to said heating furnace andconfigured to maintain the ion concentration inside said heating furnaceor to increase ions to increase the ion concentration, wherein said ionburner comprises a fuel atomizer configured to atomize fuel whichincludes kerosene, metal powder mixed oil, and water and which issupplied from a fuel supplying device, said fuel supplying devicecomprises a metal fuel supplying device which is provided with a pluselectrode and a minus electrode, when electric discharge is generatedbetween said plus and minus electrodes, particulate metal powder formedfrom one of said plus and minus electrodes is discharged into thekerosene to cause a deposition of carbon of hydrocarbon in the kerosene,and the metal powder is adhered onto the deposited carbon so that metalpowder mixed oil is produced; the temperature and ion concentrationinside said heating furnace are increased to predetermined levels bysaid ion burner such that gas supplied to said cylindrical path fromsaid gas inlet port is ascended along said cylindrical path as avortical ascending current, said axial fan is rotated by the vorticalascending current, and said power generator is driven by a rotation ofsaid fan to generate power; and said ion burner and said particleaccelerator are configured to maintain the ion concentration inside saidheating furnace or to increase the ion concentration by increasing ions,the temperature and the ion concentration inside said heating furnaceare controlled to generate the vortical ascending current.
 3. A powergenerating system comprising: a cylindrical path having a height ofseveral hundred meters, said cylindrical path comprising: a gas inletport formed in a lower part of said cylindrical path; and a gas outletport formed in an upper part of said cylindrical path; a damperconfigured to open and close said gas inlet port; a heating furnacewhich has a peripheral wall formed of castable refractories and ispositioned in said cylindrical path; an ion burner and a dischargeelectrode which are provided to said heating furnace and configured toincrease a temperature and ion concentration inside said heatingfurnace; a particle accelerator provided to said heating furnace andconfigured to maintain the ion concentration inside said heating furnaceand to increase the ion concentration by increasing ions; an axial fanhaving at least two rotor vanes in its axial direction and provided insaid cylindrical path above said heating furnace; and a power generatorprovided outside of said cylindrical path and configured to operate inassociation with said axial fan, wherein said ion burner comprises afuel atomizer configured to atomize fuel which includes kerosene, metalpowder mixed oil, and water and which is supplied from a fuel supplyingdevice, said fuel supplying device comprises a metal fuel supplyingdevice which is provided with a plus electrode and a minus electrode,when electric discharge is generated between said plus and minuselectrodes, particulate metal powder formed from one of said plus andminus electrodes is discharged into the kerosene to cause a depositionof carbon of hydrocarbon in the kerosene, and the metal powder isadhered onto the deposited carbon so that metal powder mixed oil isproduced; the temperature and ion concentration inside said heatingfurnace are increased to predetermined levels by said ion burner suchthat gas supplied to said cylindrical path from said gas inlet port isascended along said cylindrical path as a vortical ascending current,said axial fan is rotated by the vortical ascending current, and saidpower generator is driven by a rotation of said fan to generate power;and said ion burner and said discharge electrode are configured toincrease and maintain the temperature and the ion concentration insidesaid heating furnace to levels suitable for generating the vorticalascending current or said ion burner and said particle accelerator areconfigured to maintain the ion concentration inside said heating furnaceor to increase the ion concentration by increasing ions.
 4. A powergenerating system comprising: a cylindrical path having a height ofseveral hundred meters, said cylindrical path comprising: a gas inletport formed in a lower part of said cylindrical path; and a gas outletport formed in an upper part of said cylindrical path; a damperconfigured to open and close said gas inlet port; a heating furnacewhich has a peripheral wall formed of castable refractories and ispositioned in said cylindrical path; an ion burner and a dischargeelectrode which are provided to said heating furnace and configured toincrease a temperature and ion concentration inside said heatingfurnace; a particle accelerator provided to said heating furnace andconfigured to maintain the ion concentration inside said heating furnaceand to increase the ion concentration by increasing ions; an axial fanhaving at least two rotor vanes in its axial direction and provided insaid cylindrical path above said heating furnace; and a power generatorprovided outside of said cylindrical path and configured to operate inassociation with said axial fan, wherein said ion burner includes an ionframe generator and an ion breeding unit provided to the ion framegenerator, said ion frame generator comprises a fuel atomizer configuredto atomize fuel which includes kerosene, metal powder mixed oil, andwater and which is supplied from a fuel supplying device, said fuelsupplying device comprises a metal fuel supplying device which isprovided with a plus electrode and a minus electrode in a kerosene tank,when electric discharge is generated between said plus and minuselectrodes, particulate metal powder formed from the plus electrode isdischarged into the kerosene to cause a deposition of carbon ofhydrocarbon in the kerosene, and the metal powder is adhered onto thedeposited carbon so that the metal powder mixed oil is produced; whensaid plus electrode becomes shorter due to the discharge of said metalpowder, said plus electrode is automatically fed out into the kerosenetank with an automatic feed-in apparatus; said ion breeding vibratesions in the ion flame generated by the ion breeding unit, andaccelerates cations and anions to increase numbers of cations andanions, the temperature and ion concentration inside said heatingfurnace are increased to predetermined levels by said ion burner suchthat gas supplied to said cylindrical path from said gas inlet port isascended along said cylindrical path as a vortical ascending current,said axial fan is rotated by the vortical ascending current, and saidpower generator is driven by a rotation of said fan to generate power;and said ion burner and said discharge electrode are configured toincrease and maintain the temperature and the ion concentration insidesaid heating furnace to levels suitable for generating the vorticalascending current or said ion burner and said particle accelerator areconfigured to maintain the ion concentration inside said heating furnaceor to increase the ion concentration by increasing ions.
 5. A powergenerating system according to claim 1, wherein two or more axial fansare provided in said cylindrical path, and two or more power generatorsconfigured to operate in association with said axial fans are providedoutside of said cylindrical path, each of said axial fans being designedsuch that the rotor vanes thereof are rotated within stationary vanesprovided in said cylindrical path.
 6. A power generating systemaccording to claim 2, wherein two or more axial fans are provided insaid cylindrical path, and two or more power generators configured tooperate in association with said axial fans are provided outside of saidcylindrical path, each of said axial fans being designed such that therotor vanes thereof are rotated within stationary vanes provided in saidcylindrical path.
 7. A power generating system according to claim 3,wherein two or more axial fans are provided in said cylindrical path,and two or more power generators configured to operate in associationwith said axial fans are provided outside of said cylindrical path, eachof said axial fans being designed such that the rotor vanes thereof arerotated within stationary vanes provided in said cylindrical path.
 8. Apower generating system according to claim 4, wherein two or more axialfans are provided in said cylindrical path, and two or more powergenerators configured to operate in association with said axial fans areprovided outside of said cylindrical path, each of said axial fans beingdesigned such that the rotor vanes thereof are rotated within stationaryvanes provided in said cylindrical path.
 9. A power generating systemaccording to claim 1, further comprising: an auxiliary ion burnerprovided at an upper part of said cylindrical path and configured tore-heat the gas ascending through said cylindrical path to promotedischarging of the vertical ascending current through said gas outletport.
 10. A power generating system according to claim 2, furthercomprising: an auxiliary ion burner provided at an upper part of saidcylindrical path and configured to re-heat the gas ascending throughsaid cylindrical path to promote discharging of the vertical ascendingcurrent through said gas outlet port.
 11. A power generating systemaccording to claim 3, further comprising: an auxiliary ion burnerprovided at an upper part of said cylindrical path and configured tore-heat the gas ascending through said cylindrical path to promotedischarging of the vertical ascending current through said gas outletport.
 12. A power generating system according to claim 4, furthercomprising: an auxiliary ion burner provided at an upper part of saidcylindrical path and configured to re-heat the gas ascending throughsaid cylindrical path to promote discharging of the vertical ascendingcurrent through said gas outlet port.
 13. A power generating systemaccording to claim wherein; the temperature and ion concentration insidesaid heating furnace are increased up to predetermined levels by saidion burner such that the gas supplied to said cylindrical path from saidgas inlet ascends in said cylindrical path as a vortical ascendingcurrent, said axial fan is configured to be rotated by the vorticalascending current, and said power generator is configured to be drivenby a rotation of said fan to generate power; and when the temperatureand the ion concentration inside said heating furnace has reached thepredetermined levels by said ion burner, said ion burner is configuredto be temporarily stopped, and thereafter said discharge electrode isconfigured to be driven to maintain the temperature or the ionconcentration inside said heating furnace, and when the temperature orthe ion concentration has decreased below the predetermined levels, saidion burner is configured to be driven again to increase the temperatureand the ion concentration inside said heating furnace up to thepredetermined levels, and thereafter, by repeating the process of thetemporary stoppage of said ion burner, the driving of said dischargeelectrode and then the re-driving of said ion burner, the temperatureand the ion concentration inside said heating furnace are maintained atlevels suitable for generating the vortical ascending current.
 14. Apower generating system according to claim 3, wherein; the temperatureand ion concentration inside said heating furnace are increased up topredetermined levels by said ion burner such that the gas supplied tosaid cylindrical path from said gas inlet ascends in said cylindricalpath as a vortical ascending current, said axial fan is configured to berotated by the vortical ascending current, and said power generator isconfigured to be driven by a rotation of said fan to generate power; andwhen the temperature and the ion concentration inside said heatingfurnace has reached the predetermined levels by said ion burner, saidion burner is configured to be temporarily stopped, and thereafter saiddischarge electrode is configured to be driven to maintain thetemperature or the ion concentration inside said heating furnace, andwhen the temperature or the ion concentration has decreased below thepredetermined levels, said ion burner is configured to be driven againto increase the temperature and the ion concentration inside saidheating furnace up to the predetermined levels, and thereafter, byrepeating the process of the temporary stoppage of said ion burner, thedriving of said discharge electrode and then the re-driving of said ionburner, the temperature and the ion concentration inside said heatingfurnace are maintained at levels suitable for generating the vorticalascending current.
 15. A power generating system according to claim 4,wherein; the temperature and ion concentration inside said heatingfurnace are increased up to predetermined levels by said ion burner suchthat the gas supplied to said cylindrical path from said gas inletascends in said cylindrical path as a vortical ascending current, saidaxial fan is configured to be rotated by the vortical ascending current,and said power generator is configured to be driven by a rotation ofsaid fan to generate power; and when the temperature and the ionconcentration inside said heating furnace has reached the predeterminedlevels by said ion burner, said ion burner is configured to betemporarily stopped, and thereafter said discharge electrode isconfigured to be driven to maintain the temperature or the ionconcentration inside said heating furnace, and when the temperature orthe ion concentration has decreased below the predetermined levels, saidion burner is configured to be driven again to increase the temperatureand the ion concentration inside said heating furnace up to thepredetermined levels, and thereafter, by repeating the process of thetemporary stoppage of said ion burner, the driving of said dischargeelectrode and then the re-driving of said ion burner, the temperatureand the ion concentration inside said heating furnace are maintained atlevels suitable for generating the vortical ascending current.
 16. Apower generating system according to claim 12, wherein: the temperatureand ion concentration inside said heating furnace are increased up topredetermined levels by said ion burner such that the gas supplied tosaid cylindrical path from said gas inlet port ascends in saidcylindrical path as a vortical ascending current, and said axial fan isconfigured to be rotated by the vortical ascending current, and saidpower generator is configured to be driven by a rotation of said fan forpower generation; and when the temperature and the ion concentrationinside said heating furnace has reached the predetermined levels by saidion burner, said ion burner is configured to be temporarily stopped, andthereafter said particle accelerator is configured to be driven tomaintain or increase the temperature or the ion concentration insidesaid heating furnace, and when the temperature or the ion concentrationhas decreased below the predetermined levels, said ion burner isconfigured to be driven again to increase the temperature and the ionconcentration inside said heating furnace up to the predeterminedlevels, and thereafter, by repeating the process of the temporarystoppage of said ion burner, the driving of said particle acceleratorand then the re-driving of said ion burner, the temperature and the ionconcentration inside said heating furnace are maintained at levelssuitable for generating the vortical ascending current, when thetemperature and the ion concentration inside said heating furnace hasreached the predetermined levels by said ion burner, said ion burner istemporarily stopped, and thereafter said particle accelerator is drivento maintain or increase the temperature or the ion concentration insidesaid heating furnace, and if the temperature or the ion concentrationhas decreased below the predetermined level, said ion burner is drivenagain to increase the temperature and the ion concentration inside saidheating furnace up to the predetermined levels, and thereafter, byrepeating the process of the temporary stoppage of said ion burner, thedriving of said particle accelerator and then the re-driving of said ionburner, the temperature and the ion concentration inside said heatingfurnace are maintained to levels suitable for generating the vorticalascending current.
 17. A power generating system according to claim 3,wherein: the temperature and ion concentration inside said heatingfurnace are increased up to predetermined levels by said ion burner suchthat the gas supplied to said cylindrical path from said gas inlet portascends in said cylindrical path as a vortical ascending current, andsaid axial fan is configured to be rotated by the vortical ascendingcurrent, and said power generator is configured to be driven by arotation of said fan for power generation; and when the temperature andthe ion concentration inside said heating furnace has reached thepredetermined levels by said ion burner, said ion burner is configuredto be temporarily stopped, and thereafter said particle accelerator isconfigured to be driven to maintain or increase the temperature or theion concentration inside said heating furnace, and when the temperatureor the ion concentration has decreased below the predetermined levels,said ion burner is configured to be driven again to increase thetemperature and the ion concentration inside said heating furnace up tothe predetermined levels, and thereafter, by repeating the process ofthe temporary stoppage of said ion burner, the driving of said particleaccelerator and then the re-driving of said ion burner, the temperatureand the ion concentration inside said heating furnace are maintained atlevels suitable for generating the vortical ascending current, when thetemperature and the ion concentration inside said heating furnace hasreached the predetermined levels by said ion burner, said ion burner istemporarily stopped, and thereafter said particle accelerator is drivento maintain or increase the temperature or the ion concentration insidesaid heating furnace, and if the temperature or the ion concentrationhas decreased below the predetermined level, said ion burner is drivenagain to increase the temperature and the ion concentration inside saidheating furnace up to the predetermined levels, and thereafter, byrepeating the process of the temporary stoppage of said ion burner, thedriving of said particle accelerator and then the re-driving of said ionburner, the temperature and the ion concentration inside said heatingfurnace are maintained to levels suitable for generating the vorticalascending current.
 18. A power generating system according to claim 4,wherein: the temperature and ion concentration inside said heatingfurnace are increased up to predetermined levels by said ion burner suchthat the gas supplied to said cylindrical path from said gas inlet portascends in said cylindrical path as a vortical ascending current, andsaid axial fan is configured to be rotated by the vortical ascendingcurrent, and said power generator is configured to be driven by arotation of said fan for power generation; and when the temperature andthe ion concentration inside said heating furnace has reached thepredetermined levels by said ion burner, said ion burner is configuredto be temporarily stopped, and thereafter said particle accelerator isconfigured to be driven to maintain or increase the temperature or theion concentration inside said heating furnace, and when the temperatureor the ion concentration has decreased below the predetermined levels,said ion burner is configured to be driven again to increase thetemperature and the ion concentration inside said heating furnace up tothe predetermined levels, and thereafter, by repeating the process ofthe temporary stoppage of said ion burner, the driving of said particleaccelerator and then the re-driving of said ion burner, the temperatureand the ion concentration inside said heating furnace are maintained atlevels suitable for generating the vortical ascending current, when thetemperature and the ion concentration inside said heating furnace hasreached the predetermined levels by said ion burner, said ion burner istemporarily stopped, and thereafter said particle accelerator is drivento maintain or increase the temperature or the ion concentration insidesaid heating furnace, and if the temperature or the ion concentrationhas decreased below the predetermined level, said ion burner is drivenagain to increase the temperature and the ion concentration inside saidheating furnace up to the predetermined levels, and thereafter, byrepeating the process of the temporary stoppage of said ion burner, thedriving of said particle accelerator and then the re-driving of said ionburner, the temperature and the ion concentration inside said heatingfurnace are maintained to levels suitable for generating the vorticalascending current.